last modified: Thursday, August 5, 2004

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAXWELL AFB, Ala. — Civil Air Patrol has received funding from Cessna Aircraft Company to improve an Oshkosh, Wis. training facility for outstanding CAP cadets.

CAP National Commander Richard Bowling will recognize Cessna’s support on July 27 at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture fly-in and convention in Oshkosh. Bowling says CAP will use the funds to install air conditioning in the cadet facility’s dormitory and dining hall, improve lighting and update exterior walkways.

“Cessna’s support means so much to our cadets,” Bowling said. “They use the Oshkosh facility each year as their command post for work during AirVenture, and also meet there for aerospace education and flight academies. Heat and humidity have been problems in the building for a long time, since so many of our activities take place during the summer months when the cadets are out of school. The building has needed repairs for some time, as well. CAP is grateful to Cessna for making this investment in our young people.”

The Oshkosh facility, called the CAP Cadet Training and Education Center, is located on the property where AirVenture is held. More than 160 CAP National Blue Beret cadets assist with AirVenture each year and use the center as their command post. Among their duties is tracking aircraft arrival and departure times and marshaling the many private airplanes flown in by visitors from all over the world.

“More than 750,000 people come to AirVenture each year,” said Col. Ken Salzman, CAP, who is activity director for National Blue Beret. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for cadets to work with people who have a real passion for aviation and to see a wide range of activities and equipment relevant to the field.”

CAP also holds its annual Aerospace Education Academy at the Oshkosh center. At this event, cadets from throughout the country learn about aviation and space careers through classroom and hands-on activities. They learn to use the composite materials, sheet metal and fabric used in restoring and rebuilding airplanes. They also plan and fly a simulated disaster relief mission as part of EAA’s Project Aviation, launch model rockets and study the technology of hot air balloons.

Flight academies held at the center allow cadets to log at least 10 hours of instruction in Cessna 172s. More than 80% of cadets who attend these flight academies go on to earn their solo wings.

“Civil Air Patrol is a tremendous organization,” said Roger Whyte, Cessna’s senior vice president of sales and marketing.  “As one of the world’s largest Cessna operators, they have repeatedly used their aircraft to serve the nation.  In addition, their objective of teaching people about aviation mirrors Cessna’s goal of teaching the world to fly.  We are honored to have such a strong partnership with the Civil Air Patrol.”

Bowling and Whyte will discuss the project at a 2:00 p.m. press conference on Tuesday, July 27, at the main media tent for AirVenture. Immediately following the press conference, CAP and Cessna executives invite the media to a reception at the Cadet Training and Education Center (see location below). Members of the media will be able to see the center’s improvements, meet Cessna and CAP officials, and talk with some of CAP’s National Blue Beret cadets.

Cessna Aircraft Company is one of CAP’s corporate partners. According to Jim Shea, CAP director of strategic partnerships, CAP’s corporate partner program allows businesses espousing similar values and community service goals to directly support the work of CAP volunteers.  In return for financial support, corporate partners receive the right to use the Civil Air Patrol name and corporate partner mark in advertising, marketing and promotions in order to promote their support of CAP homeland security efforts, disaster relief, education and youth programs.

Civil Air Patrol, the official Air Force auxiliary, is a nonprofit organization with almost 62,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 95% of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members take a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the almost 27,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 60 years. Visit CAP on the Web at www.cap.gov.

Cessna Aircraft Company is a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT). Textron is a $10 billion multi-industry company with more than 43,000 employees in 40 countries. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others.  More information is available at www.textron.com. More information about Cessna Aircraft Company is available at www.cessna.com.

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